At a glance

Your chance to

At a glance

1 night basic lodge, en suite, 4 nights full service camping

5 days point-to-point walking

Full porterage throughout

Altitude maximum 4985m, average 3500m

Climb Africa's second highest mountain

The majestic triple peaks of Mt Kenya are a sight to behold. Following less used routes, we use the Burguret Route and Sirimon Trail to ascend and descend, passing spectacular alpine moorland, forests, glaciers and tarns. Our goal is Point Lenana, at 4985m, the second highest trekking peak in Africa. Snow-capped for much of the year, it is arguably a more beautiful mountain than neighbouring Kilimanjaro. We add an acclimatisation day to the trek as we pass the technical peaks of Batian (5199m) and Nelion (5188m).

Walk profile

Daily distance in km/miles:

Day 2

10.0km/6.2miles

Day 3

12.0km/7.5miles

Day 4

10.0km/6.2miles

Day 5

23.0km/14.3miles

Day 6

9.0km/5.6miles

Number of days walking: 5

Pace: Approximately 12.8km/7.9miles walking per day

Terrain: High altitude; including steep, rocky terrain

Itinerary

Those not flying with the group from London will either need to meet the tour leader at the airport at 06.30h or will be picked up en-route to the airport at 06.00h from the pre tour hotel we use and will join the rest of the group at the airport. (Times are subject to change depending on group flight times - see final joining instructions).
From the airport we drive to Mountain Rock Lodge, around a 3 hour drive in time for lunch. This afternoon we walk to Mau Mau caves in Mount Kenya Forest Reserve. These caves used to be the hideout by local freedom fighters that fought for independence in the colonial period. This is a pleasant walk through the tall towering trees. The forest reserve is home to a wealth of birdlife, game and plants, with at least 11 unique species on the lower slopes of Mount Kenya. You may see Colobus monkeys up in the trees and elephants and buffalo through the clearings.(1950m)See more images and videos

2Day 2Begin trek to Giant Bamboo Camp (2600m).

We are initially transferred to Gathiuru Forest Station 15kms away (approx 1 hour), before entering the dense forest with its stands of towering bamboo. We trek through forest and bamboo, gaining around 400m in altitude. This hiking is essential for acclimatisation. On the lower slopes of Mount Kenya there is a wide range of vegetation and fauna. We look out for tracks from various game as we walk through the variety of vegetation including huge podocarpus and pencil cedar trees. In the forest brightly coloured birds such as scarlet winged turacos can be seen and heard, as well as different types of monkeys. (2600m).Approx 4-5 hours walking.See more images and videos

3Day 3Ascend to Highland Castle Camp (3700m).

We get up early this morning to trek to Highland Castle Camp, as we hike over steeper ground where the bamboo gives way to the to hagenia rose wood zone (2850-3100m), and as we then climb higher we pass through the Giant Heather zone (3100m-3300m). Our camp is located close to the sheer lava cliffs. We cross high altitude moorland, dotted with the unique Giant Lobelia and Senecio plants. We gain a further 1100m in altitude in the course of the day. There is little game as we reach this point, but we will look out for the elusive high altitude zebras and eland, but you are more likely to see rock hyrax and sunbirds. Burguret Valley offers spectacular views of the two highest and technical peaks of Baitan and Nelion, a rewarding and interesting day. (3700m) Approx 5-6 hours walking.See more images and videos

4Day 4Scenic summit circuit to Shipton's Camp (4236m).

Today we ascend up to Hausberg Col. We pass spectacular moorland landscapes and there are some amazing views and it is not unusual to spot eagles and buzzards circling overhead as we ascend to Hausberg Col at 4600m, after connecting the summit circuit trail to descend to Kami Camp.The camp is the first time where we are likely to come across other trekkers on the mountain and has panoramic views of all the main peaks including Terere and Sendeyo two old parasitic vents of the main peaks. Climbing high and sleeping low is excellent for acclimitisation and the benefits of todays ascent and then descent is planned accordingly.(4410m) Approx 5.5- 6 hours walking.

We rise very early this morning before dawn with the aim of arriving at Point Lenana for sunrise. We zigzag up a large scree slope before we make the final short ascent to Point Lenana at 4985m. If the moon is bright you will hardly need a torch. The climb takes between 3 - 4 hours. Watching the sunrise over the Kenyan plains is a truly amazing experience. We later descend back to Shipton's Camp for breakfast then relax our tired legs for the rest of the day. Shipton's Camp at 4,236m. is a dreamlike setting below the towering peaks of Batian Sendeyo and Terere, with its resident populations of bizarre rock hyrax and beautiful sunbirds. Approx. 6 hours walking.

We descend down Mount Kenya up to Old Moses Camp at (3340m) in 4 hours before a short drive to a much needed shower and beer! En route we cross the equatorand stop to enjoy lunch at the foot of the mountain. We then drive on to Nairobi airport for the evening departure. Approx. 4 hours walking.See more images and videos

Your images

Guided Group

This is a small group adult holiday. The group is usually between 3 and 12 in size, with an average of 10 like-minded clients booking individually, in a couple or as friends together.

Activity level

You have a good level of fitness and are looking for a physically challenging holiday. Previous experience is essential for activity based trips.

What's included

What's included

All breakfasts, 6 lunches and 5 dinners

All accommodation (see below)

All transport and listed activities

Tour leader throughout

Flights from London (if booking incl. flights)

What's not included

Travel insurance

Single accommodation (available on request-includes single tent)

Visas or vaccinations

Accommodation details

Camping & Lodge

1 night basic lodge, en suite, 4 nights full service camping.
You will spend 1 night in a basic lodge and 4nights full-service camping with a private toilet tent. You will only carry your day pack while trekking and local staff will take care of camping chores. Limited single accommodation is available and we can arrange extra accommodation before or after the trip.

Single supplement available from GBP100 (includes tent)

Essential info

Vaccinations and Visa
Most nationalities do now require a visa for Kenya, including Britons, most EC nationals, Australians, New Zealanders, Americans and Canadians. The cost for British Nationals is USD50 and the visa can be obtained on arrival. Please ensure that you have at least one blank page free of immigration stamps in your passport to enter Kenya.
There are no mandatory vaccination requirements. Recommended vaccinations are: Polio, Tetanus, Diphtheria, Typhoid, Hepatitis A. Malaria prophylaxis is essential and we suggest that you seek advice from your GP or travel health clinic about which malaria tablets to take. Dengue fever is a known risk in places visited. It is a tropical viral disease spread by daytime biting mosquitoes. There is currently no vaccine or prophylaxis available for Dengue, and therefore the best form of prevention is to avoid being bitten. We recommend you take the usual precautions to avoid mosquito bites. Holiday style

Grade 6
Mount Kenya is the highest mountain in Kenya and the second highest peak in Africa, after Mount Kilimanjaro. Reaching Point Lenana will require considerable fitness. This itinerary is designed to give you the best chance of reaching the summit. It is a long and hard trek. Even if you consider yourself fit, you might still find the climb very hard, depending on how well your body acclimatises to high altitude. There is no scientific way to determine how easily you acclimatise, and be aware that the acclimatisation process also can differ from climb to climb.
The summit attempt is graded as Tough because of the high altitude and the level of physical effort needed. Please be aware many clients find the summit day on Mount Kenya a real challenge. The rest of the trek is graded Challenging more as a consequence of the high altitude and extended wilderness and the difficulty of walking; hence the Challenging/ Tough grading for the overall trek. We strongly recommend that you thoroughly read the Exodus grading system as outlined in the Walking & Trekking Brochure before booking this trip.
Our Burguret to Sirimon route circuit is designed to give you an excellent chance of reaching the summit by using a five-day route on the mountain and having an extra acclimatisation day at a mid-way camp on the moorland (3700m). There is a good chance our group will not encounter anyone else on the mountain until arriving at Kami Camp or the summit walk, as the Burguret route is a little used wilderness path. Our descent via the picturesque Sirimon route, on the north-western side of Mount Kenya, escapes some rainfall, making it drier and, in our view, preferable to other routes.
The weather on Mount Kenya can however change quite rapidly from warm daily temperatures to minus figures as the sun goes down. Adequate clothing needs to be worn as to cope with these changes in temperature.
Please note that as we reach higher altitude - day 4 and 5 of the above land only itinerary there may be a lot of scree, making the trek more challenging. The final ascent is almost exclusively on scree and loose rock without permanent footpaths but no technical skills are required. Some of the trails are not well defined and some forest sections are often slippery and moorland paths can be very wet in poor weather conditions.
Maximum altitude 4985m

Altitude
Despite careful pacing and adequate hydration, some trekkers will experience mild altitude sickness. Most recover quickly; but those affected by serious altitude problems will need to descend to a lower altitude with a member of the local staff and probably abandon the trek in the interests of safety. Please report any symptoms of altitude illness to our guides immediately and be prepared to follow their advice.
Although rare, a number of medical conditions can also reduce your body's ability to acclimatise, and thus will affect your performance at altitude and make you more susceptible to AMS. If you are worried about any pre-existing condition (e.g. heart problems), or unsure of your physical ability, we recommend that you seek medical advice prior to booking.
Female travellers please note there is some evidence to suggest that the regularity of the menstrual cycle is disrupted at altitude, this disruption has been known to bring on unexpected periods.

Eating & drinking

All breakfasts, 6 lunches and 5 dinners included.
An outline of the kind of food you can expect to eat on trek is detailed below:
Breakfast: cereals, assorted fruits and fruit juice, tea/coffee/chocolate, oat porridge, toast, pancakes, scramble eggs, bacon or sausages.
Picnic lunch: ham/cheese/lettuce sandwiches, burger steaks or veggie burger, assorted fruits, packets fruit juice, crisps.
Dinner: soup of the day, fish fillets with buttered potatoes or vegetable stew with rice, fruit, tea or coffee.
Vegetarians are well catered for but please inform us before departure of any special dietary requests. Please note that in Kenya the availability of certain specialised products for restricted diets, e.g. gluten-free or dairy-free, is minimal or non-existent and we strongly recommend you bring these specialized dietary items from home.You may find it beneficial to bring some 'summit snacks' with you from home; summit day is a long trekking day and high energy snacks are not readily available locally in Kenya.

Trip notes

Download the detailed trip notes for everything you could possibly want
to know about this trip, including detailed itinerary and full kit list.

Weather & seasonality

Although Kenya lies in the tropics, the temperature depends more on altitude than on season. Kenya straddles the equator so short showers can happen at any time of year. Daytime temperatures can get as high as 30degC in Nairobi but with low humidity.

Mount Kenya can be climbed all year round, but it's safest to climb during the dry seasons: January-February and July to September offer the most reliably fine weather and it's best to avoid the two rainy seasons from mid March until June and from late October to the end of December.

Above the cloud line the days are warm and pleasant, with temperatures in sunlight often above 20degC, but the nights can get very cold. It is possible for temperatures to get as low as -15degC at our highest overnight stop. The daily weather pattern on the mountain tends to be clear mornings with an afternoon cloud build-up that often clears before sunset. In the (European) summer, the weather is usually cloudy at lower altitudes and often sunny above 3,500 m. Please note that mountain weather conditions are never totally predictable and we may meet wet and snowy conditions at any time.

The below weather chart is for Nairobi. As we climb with altitude these conditions will tend to change, as described above.

Gallery

Reviews & community

Well organised with good guides. The scenery is ever changing and quite spectacular. Great weather - perfect blue sky and sunshine on summit day. The camp by the caves on the second night is really something special with the singalong by the campfire and the millions of stars in the sky.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Seeing the sunrise on the approach to the summit.
The beautiful green tarns on day three.

What did you think of your group leader?

Very good - friendly, approachable and informative.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Bring lots of wet wipes and plenty of deet - there are a LOT of insects!

An excellent trek in Kenya. The scenery was great, the weather kind and the group was good fun.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Reaching Point Lenana at sunrise. The 3 days I spent at Malindi on the coast after the trek were a great way to see another part of Kenya.

What did you think of your group leader?

Excellent. The support from the whole crew was fantastic.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

If you are a reasonably fit hill walker then you can complete the ascent. Be prepared for some long days especially the ascent day when you will be on the go for over 12 hours. The pace can seem very slow at times as there will be a variety of ages and fitness levels so go with the flow.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

The trip was excellent. The down side was that the group of friends I was with (we were land only) were not picked up at Nairobi and had to wait over 3 hours for a vehicle; this spoilt the first day. Exodus - you need to get your act together when meeting up with group members not on group flights. The trek on the last day from Old Moses camp to the park entrance was nothing to write home about.

Exodus Response

We would like to thank Alasdair for his review and we are very pleased that he found the trek to be excellent. We are, however, sorry for the error and inconvenience caused in regards to his transfer; this has since been followed up with our local manager and team in Kenya. The trek on the last day starting from Old Moses Camp is currently being reworked; there is a new trail being made that will cut through the woods rather than following the road.
Emma Garrick - Trip Manager for Kenya.

What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Crossing the Hausberg Col at 4600m and getting our first view of Point Lenana. A sense of achievement for reaching the highest point of the trip so far but also a sense of anticipation for the following days climb to the peak.

What did you think of your group leader?

Peter and Wilson were great leaders. They both knew the mountain like the back of their hands and were also willing to pass on their knowledge.

Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

Take the advice of the guides to walk 'poli, poli' (slowly, slowly) and drink lots of water!

Back in 1987, Alistair bought a bucket-shop ticket to Islamabad, picked up the Karakoram Highway and headed over to China and then south through India to Ceylon over to Indochina via the Indonesian Archipelago to Papua New Guinea. Finally stopping after nine months for a refuel in Melbourne, the finest city in the southern hemisphere. He didn't leave for three years. His passion for trekking high peaks in the Andes is matched only with the need to find the perfect live Indie music gig, the more alternative the better!

Questions about your trip

Pick your question

What are the huts like on Mt Kenya?

We use basic mountain huts and refuges throughout this trip as we make our way to Point Lenana. Mountain Rock Lodge offers basic twin share rooms. The mountain huts used on the ascent are basic with shared facilities, often with multiple beds in each room. Each room may accommodate both female and male trekkers.No bed linen is provided so you must bring your own sleeping bag. With regard to toilet facilities, Old Moses Camp and Shiptons camp have flush toilets. Mackinders Camp use pit latrines.

Tom Bowring - Africa Operations

What kind of clothing is best?

Lightweight clothing for the day time, as the sun can be quite strong. Bring warmer layers for the cooler evenings and early mornings, when temperatures can drop surprisingly due to the altitude a lot of Kenya sits at.

Tom Bowring - Customer Operations

What vaccinations do I need?

Unfortunately we are not qualified to answer all your questions in regards to travel health, so we strongly recommend you contact your GP or a Travel Health Clinic at least 8 weeks prior to departure for up-to-date information. There will be limited information in the trip notes but you should always seek further qualified medical advice.

Nomad Travel Clinics are experts in preparing people for travel, providing advice on vaccinations, anti-malarial and staying healthy whilst overseas. We have arranged a special 10% discount for Exodus passengers on any vaccinations that you may require! Take along your Nomad discount card, sent with your confirmation pack, or call Exodus for your special discount code.Visit www.nomadtravel.co.uk/exodus for further information.

What's the best way to take money to Kenya?

Just taking Sterling cash will be fine, and there is no need to change in US dollars. The local currency is the Kenyan Schilling, and you will be changing your money into this and spending with schillings only. Some services will accept dollars as payment, but it is not legal tender. It is best to change money at the airport in Nairobi and ATM machines are availabile there as well. Credit Cards are accepted at most points on the trips if you get stuck as well!

Tom Bowring - Africa Operations

Is it easy to get a Kenyan visa on arrival?

Yes, for British passport holders it is quite straightforward. The cost is $50. Other nationalities should check with the nearest embassy.

Tom Bowring - Customer Operations

Exodus staff - expertise on hand to help

All the staff at Exodus share a passion for adventure travel, and are always happy to answer any questions you may have. You can find an expert for the area you are interested in here and can contact them to get further information. If you don't see your specific country listed, please email customerops@exodus.co.uk and they will get the answers you need!

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